Okblues Designs Blog

Sketch Challenge #12 is posted at GDS. Here are previews of the layered templates we will be working with:

12" x 12"

8.5" x 11"

Here is a layout I did using this template:

This challenge will end at midnight EDT on May 4, 2007. The templates are available as a layered psd file for PS, PSE & PSP users or as individual pngs for users of other software. I hope you can join us!

Sketch Challenge #11 is posted at GDS. Here is a preview of the template I created for this challenge. Click for a larger view.

Here is the layout I created using this template. After a hard day working in the garden, you need a cool drink :)

Credits: Papers & elements from Zippers & Seams by Roberta D'Achille; Tag from Antonym by Melissa Rose; Brad & conchos from Western Riders by Kim Liddiard. Fonts: GE Freelancer, 2 Peas Red Dog.

I hope you can find time to participate in this challenge.

No, not me - just quoting my son. I am blessed with children who have a sense of humor and can be quite the little pranksters at times. Here is a layout I recently finished for the Quickpage Exchange at GDS that showcases some of their antics:

Credits: Pretty Katie by Rebecca Gold, Sweet Swirls Set 1 by me. Font: angelina.

If you've never participated in a quickpage exchange, drop by the forums at GDS & check it out. It's a great way to receive a complete album in exchange for creating one quickpage. We just finished one using the Sweet Katie by Rebecca Gold & another will be posted soon. I have been working on some new creations & hope to have them in the store soon. I'll keep you posted :)

Sketch Challenge #10 is posted at GDS with a free layered template for you to play with. Here is a preview of the layered template I designed for this challenge (Click for a larger view):

Here is my layout using the template:

Pepper is our hyperactive rat terrier. Even though he is over 12 years old, he still hasn't slowed down much. He & Daniel are a good match as they are both so energetic. Thanks for looking and I hope you can find time to drop by & participate in this challenge.

I finally found some free time after the kids went to bed to finish a layout. Not a CT layout, not one promoting my designs or challenges, but one just for fun. The style is a little outside my comfort zone and I like the results. I think Doris will like it too.

We get very little snow here in Oklahoma. So when we were able to spend time in Canaan Valley in northern West Virginia, the kids were thrilled by all the fluffy white snow to play in. This is just a candid shot of my little star getting ready to go outside and play. Click on the layout for a larger view.

Thanks for looking! I'm off to bed now or I won't want to get up in the morning :)

It's another hectic Monday here for me, as I'm sure it is for a lot of you. And it also means that it's my day for the Daily Download at GDS. Here is a peek at what I created for you this time:

I love playing with brushes & it fascinates me to start with a blank page and end up with a pretty paper. I hope you enjoy these papers as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Today is also the last day to get your quickpage submitted for the first Quickpage Exchange. And don't forget Sketch Challenge #9 which ends this Friday, March 23rd. Here is a preview of the layered template we are working with this challenge:

Here is my layout using this layered template. I am using this template to create a page for each of the kids by year. I think it will be fun for them to look back at the changes from year to year.

That wraps up my chaotic Monday post. Hope you all enjoy a great week!

Sketch Challenge #8 is posted at GDS. Here is a preview of the layered template we will be using for this challenge:

And here is my layout using this template:

This challenge will end at midnight EST on March 9, 2007. The template is available as a layered psd file for PS, PSE & PSP users or as individual pngs for users of other software. Also, there will be a posting bonus for all who post a layout in the Sketch Challenge Gallery at GDS using this template. See you there!

Monday's are my day to host the Daily Download at GDS & today I have a new layered template for you. This is a sample of an new set of layered templates I am working on. I hope you enjoy it! Here is a preview:

Here is a layout I did using this template. When we bought our boat last summer, we took it to a river near the house to try it out. Our youngest dd is a bit stubborn at times & just wouldn't heed mom's advice. Talk about a bad hair day!

Credits: My kit in progress; Stitching by Mandy Steward. Fonts: AlphaMackAOE, FatFinger. Look for this kit and the new set of templates in the store this month. I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

It's a dreary day here today, with drizzling rain off & on and the temperatures steadily falling. Sometimes I think I would rather have snow than rain in the winter. It would certainly mean a lot less mud to deal with, lol.

Sketch Challenge #6 is posted at GDS and will continue until February 9th. Here is a preview of the layered template we will be working with:

Here is the layout I based this template on:

I hope you have time to stop by & give this challenge a try. As usual, there will be a posting bonus for all who complete a layout using this template.

It's been a long day & I'm late getting the new Sketch Challenge posted. This challenge includes a free layered template designed by me and I hope you enjoy using it. Here is a preview of the template:

The template is available as a layered psd file or as a zipfile containing individual png files for the necessary layers. The template is based on a layout I did a few months ago:

Credits: Nicolette by Miki Ferkul (Microferk Designs) available at Scrapbook-Elements. (Hue and saturation adjusted on some papers and elements.) Fonts: GE Coterie Script, LD Scriptive.

I hope you can find time to stop by and give the Sketch Challenge a try. As always, there will be a surprise posting bonus for all who complete a layout using the template.

It's a beautiful frosty morning here. Hubby is suffering with an abscessed tooth and will have to endure a root canal. Other than that, we are doing pretty good. I found some time to scrap yesterday & put together this layout using an older Christmas pic.

Round 1 of the GDS Supreme Team Competition ended yesterday and there were some awesome layouts submitted. Congratulations to all who chose to enter! My Sketch Challenge is still open with a free layered template for your use. I hope you can find the time to drop by & at least say hello.

Each summer we try to attend my hubby's family reunion at Robbers' Cave State Park. It is usually hot, hot, hot and one of the highlights for the kids is going swimming at the lake to cool off. Here is a layout I did for the current Sketch Challenge at GDS with photos of dd Doris enjoying a swim

If you want a break from the holiday madness, stop by & give the Sketch Challenge a try. Or share your all-time favorite holiday recipe in the Recipe Exchange.

Week 1 of the Recipe Exchange is over and there were some really great recipe cards created. Here was my card for Week 1:

Credits:Veggie Garden, flower from Hoppy and tear action all by Atomic Cupcake; Bow by Clara Wallace. Font: Courier New.

And I just have to show off this wonderfully creative recipe card Holly created. I love it, the elements and papers are absolutely perfect for her recipe.

Today we started Week 2 of the Recipe Exchange. This week's theme is "Cookies". Not necessarily Christmas cookies, but any cookie recipe that is a favorite of your family and friends. Here is my first card for Week 2:

I understand that this is a busy time of the year for most of us, but I hope you can find a few minutes to drop by & swap a recipe or two with us this week. And those who participate will get a zipfile of all the recipes submitted in full-size suitable for printing. While you're there, check out the ongoing Daily Downloads. There have been some awesome creations given away, but you have to be quick as they are only up for a day. There are also other fun challenges taking place and new products are being added to the store. Hope to see you there!

When I started digi-scrapping, I set a goal for myself to complete one layout per day. Well, I'm not even coming close to meeting my goal this year. I did finish this 2 page layout today using some older photos of the kids sledding and playing in the snow while we were living in Pennsylvania. As an adult, I gripe about snowy weather, complain about having to drive in it, shovel it, etc. But through the eyes of my children, it's not something to complain about. Rather, it's a wonderful, magical world to have fun in. Maybe I should take a lesson from them. Slow down, look at a snowflake up close again, enjoy the wonders God provides us instead of taking it all for granted. Here's page 1 of Winter Fun:

And here is the second page:

Credits: Winter Weather Warning by Miki Ferkul (Microferk Designs, available at Scrapbook-Elements; Alpha (colorized), snowflake border and snowflake tag from Snowy Winter Solstice, also by Miki and available at Scrapbook-Elements. Fonts: Comic Sans, PC Diva. Winter Weather Warning was a fun kit to work with and with the variety of papers & elements in the kit, I could make a dozen more layouts using it.

I didn't realize how spoiled I have become in regards to my internet usage until my DSL bit the dust yesterday. They were kind enough to give me dialup till they fixed the problem and that was appreciated. I just didn't remember how slow our dialup really is. Good news is they have the DSL repaired now. This gives me more consideration for those users that are still stuck with dialup.

We've had more of our crazy Oklahoma weather this week. We started the week in the balmy mid 70's. Then a front moved in and temperatures took a nosedive to highs in the 30's yesterday. Fortunately we didn't get as much snow as they predicted, less than an inch. But we did get a lot of rain and some ice before the snow. I grew up in the north, with lots of snow. It sure is pretty to look at, but I'd rather not have much. I guess I've lived away from real winter too long.

A new sketch challenge started at goDigitalScrapbooking yesterday and will run through December 13th. Here is my layout for the challenge:

Credits: Garden of Friends by ConnyB; Fiber from Pastel Romance by Ashley Bailey; Brad from Necessities - Silver & Alpha from Bright New Day, both by Atomic Cupcake; Flowers and staples from the Collaberation Kit by the DigiDareYa Team; Sketch by Bree Clarkston at ScrapMaps. Font: LD TakeANote.

Sorry, there's not a layered template this time. However, all participants will receive an exclusive freebie from me at the end of the challenge.

I have a sketch challenge posted at goDigitalScrapbooking with a layered template for you to use for the challenge. Here is a preview of the template:

I hope you can find the time to drop by & give the sketch challenge a try. This challenge ends on November 29th, and then I will put up a new one. Depending on participation, I expect to post a new one every two weeks. And each person who participates in this challenge will get a surprise freebie from me. Here is the layout I created that inspired the template:

The photos are of our dd JoAnn with one of the kids' horses, Rooster. Credits: Rustic Grunge by Denise Bailey Designs; Flowers from July Breeze by Tracey Lee; Doodles by Angie Briggs. Fonts: GE Greenway Caps, LD Diary.